Sealing device

ABSTRACT

A seal structure ( 10 ) has a flange ( 12 ) which locates against the flange of another member ( 22 ) and is held there by a “U” shaped clip ( 32 ). Member ( 22 ) has one or more cut outs ( 30 ) in its flange, and clip ( 32 ) has a corresponding number of tags ( 34 ) formed in one leg of its “U” shape. The or each tag ( 34 ) is bent inwards. On assembly, the flange of member ( 22 ) is placed against flange ( 12 ) and clip ( 32 ) is pushed over the sub assembly until the tag(s) ( 34 ) locate in a respective cut out ( 30 ). The need for drilling holes and riveting or bolting the assembly together is thus obviated.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device enabling the sealing ofone space against ingress of the contents of an adjacent space, whichcontents may be solids, fluids, or a burning substance.

[0002] Where the contents are a burning substance, it is known toprovide a flexible seal assembly which is held together by rivets or thelike, passing through metallic strips trapping an end of the assembly.Such an example is described and illustrated in published GB patentspecification 1,279,468.

[0003] A disadvantage of the published disclosure is that the assemblyhas to be held together by means other than the rivets, until the rivetholes are drilled and while fixing of the rivets is effected.Alternatively, the rivet holes may be drilled in each individual partprior to assembly, and then aligned during the holding of the partstogether by some means, so as to enable fixing of the rivets. Bothmethods are time consuming operations.

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide an improved sealing deviceconstruction.

[0005] According to the present invention a sealing device comprises afirst member having back to back plane surfaces, a seal having back toback plane surface portions, one of which locates against a said planesurface of said member, and a clip having length and a “U” shapedprofile normal thereto, in which said member and said seal nest when thesealing device is assembled, and co-operating fixing means formed insaid member and in one leg of said “U” shape, which fixing means, onassembly of the parts, engage each other and prevent inadvertentseparation thereof.

[0006] The invention will now be described, by way of example and withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is an exploded, pictorial view of the constituent parts ofan example of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through the constituent parts ofFIG. 1, in a direction normal to their major dimensions when assembled.

[0009]FIG. 3 depicts an alternative form of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 depicts an alternative form of co-operating fasteningmeans, and:

[0011]FIG. 5 depicts a further alternative form of the presentinvention.

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1. An elongate flexible seal member 10 has aflange 12, defined by back to back plane surfaces 12 a and 12 b, formedintegrally thereon. Flange 12 includes respective top and bottom lips 14and 16. A pair of spaced bosses 18 and 20 are formed or otherwise fixedon plane surface 12 b, for reasons explained later in thisspecification. The material from which seal 10 is made, will be dictatedby whatever substance it will be required to prevent from passing it inan operative situation.

[0013] A flanged metallic member 22 having back to back plane surfaces22 a, 22 b has a top edge 24 and a bottom edge 26 which, when the planesurface 12 b of seal 10 is positioned against plane surface 22 a, willbe overlapped and underlapped by lips 14 and 16 respectively in closefitting relationship. These features if it be so desired, can be theonly features provided for the purpose of locating seal 10 on flange 22during assembly of one to the other. However, in the present example,bosses 18 and 20 fit in aperture 30 and provide resistance to relativelateral movement of the two parts

[0014] A clip 32 has length, and in a plane normal to that length is of“U” shape (shown inverted in the drawing). A tag 34 is formed in one legof the “U” shape by stamping or cutting an appropriate shape through thethickness of the leg e.g. two sides of a triangle, the third side beinguncut, or three sides of a rectangle, the fourth side being uncut. Ineach case, the tag is bent about the line of the uncut side.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 2. Clip 32 is preferably made from springsteel and the spacing between the legs of the “U” portion made less thanthe thickness of the sub assembly over which it is fitted, therebyproviding an initial gripping action.

[0016] On assembly, seal 10 is fitted to flanged member 22 as describedhereinbefore, so that bosses 18 and 20 fit in aperture 30. Clip 32 isthen positioned adjacent the rim of flange member 22 so that the or eachbent tag or 34 is aligned with the central portion of the or respectiveapertures 30. Clip 32 is then pushed on to flange member 22 until thetag or tags 34 flip into the or each respective aperture 30. Clip 32cannot now be removed from flange member 22, until the tag or tags 34are prised out of its or their respective apertures 30.

[0017] The or each tag 34 can be prised from its aperture 30 by anappropriately proportioned lever (not shown). However, if each part ofthe assembly is so proportioned that when assembled, there is sufficientspace to push clip 32 further on to flange 22, then the plane surface 22b of flange member 22 will force the or each tag 34 out of its aperture30. Clip 32 can then be displaced lengthwise of the assembly to move tag34 from its alignment with its respective aperture 30. Clip 32 can thenbe pulled from flange member 22, thus enabling separation of flangemember 22 and seal 10.

[0018] Referring now to FIG. 3, in which parts corresponding to partsdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 are given like numbers. Inthis example of the present invention, flange member 22 and seal 10 areannular. Clip 32 is thus formed from two identical arcuate portions,only one of which, numbered 32 a, is shown. The two arcuate portions arefitted over flange member 22 in opposing radial directions, until tags34 flip into respective apertures 30. Again, provided the respectivedimensions of the parts of the assembly are appropriately proportioned,when it is required that the assembly be separated, the two arcuate clipportions 32 a can be pushed closer together so as to cause the tags 34to be forced from their respective apertures 30. Clip portions 32 a canthen be rotated to move tags 34 out of alignment with their respectiveapertures, so as to enable removal of the arcuate clip portions 32 a.

[0019] Referring now to FIG. 4. In this example of the presentinvention, the tags 32 and apertures 30 are substituted by dimples 38 inflange member 22, and cooperating dimples in clip 32, which dimplesserve the same purpose as tags 34 and apertures 30 in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 5. In this example of the presentinvention, seal 10 is toroidal in shape, and its plane surfaces 12 a and12 b are cylindrical. It follows that that part 22 corresponding toflange member 22 and clip 32 in FIGS. 1 to 3, are cylindrical also, eachpart being formed and arranged about a common axis 42. Thus, assemblyand dis-assembly thereof is achieved by appropriate relative movement ofthe parts along axis 42.

I claim:
 1. A sealing device comprising a first member having back toback plane surfaces, a seal having back to back plane surfaces, one ofthe said plane surfaces of the seal locates against a said plane surfaceof said member, and a clip having length and legs to form a “U” shapedprofile normal thereto, in which said member and seal nest when thedevice is assembled, and integral, co-operating fixing means formed insaid member and in one leg of said “U” shaped clip, which fixing means,on assembly of the parts, engage each other and prevent inadvertentseparation thereof.
 2. A sealing device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid back to back plane surfaces define flanges on said member and saidseal respectively.
 3. A sealing device as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid integral, co-operating fixing means comprises tags and tagreceiving apertures formed in said clip and said flange memberrespectively.
 4. A sealing device as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidintegral, co-operating fixing means comprises dimples formed in saidclip and said flange member.
 5. A sealing device as claimed in claim 1wherein said one surface of said seal includes boss means, and saidsurface of said member against which said one surface locates includesaperture means for receipt of said boss means, so as to provideresistance to relative lateral movement between those assembled parts ofthe device.
 6. A sealing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bossmeans and aperture means are aligned with said tags for assembly, andsaid boss means are grooved so as to enable said aperture means toreceive said tags.
 7. A sealing device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid sealing device is a straight structure.
 8. A sealing device asclaimed in claim 1 wherein said sealing device is an annular structure,and said clip is formed from two substantially semi circular portionswhich are fitted in diametrically opposed positional relationship onsaid member and seal.
 9. A sealing device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid plane surfaces and said clip are cylindrical, and said clip isfitted thereover in a direction axially of said cylindrical form.
 10. Asealing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip is soproportioned as to enable said fixing means to be forced out ofengagement with each other by pushing said clip further on said memberand seal and then displacing said clip laterally to move said tags outof alignment with said apertures.